tersely
Americanadverb
-
in an effectively concise manner; succinctly.
This phenomenally prolific creator of tersely plotted psychological thrillers deserves to be on your bookshelves.
The ordinance fulfills the tersely and clearly worded language of the city's comprehensive plan.
-
in an abruptly concise manner; brusquely.
“Maybe that's my business,” replied the girl tersely as she turned away.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tersely
Explanation
When you make a point without using very many words, you do it tersely. You could offer a long explanation for why you won't take your brother trick-or-treating — or answer tersely by saying "No." Tersely is from the adjective terse, which means "concise" but was originally defined as "clean-cut," from a root meaning "neat or clean." When you speak tersely, you do keep things tidy, using no extra words. In fact, something stated tersely can be so short and pithy that it can come across as brusque, or a little bit rude. Imagine asking a barista for more foam on your cappuccino and hearing them tersely reply, "Nope."
Vocabulary lists containing tersely
Out of My Mind
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Hoot
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A Monster Calls
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When an intern tells a patient that he believes kindness is the best medicine, J.D. tersely interrupts his blue-sky meliorism with a cold splash of reality.
From Salon ● Feb. 26, 2026
The tersely written account said that “many” officials thought a rate cut wouldn’t be warranted in December but that “several” thought a reduction “could well be appropriate.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 19, 2025
When asked if he still had confidence in his Senate counterpart, he tersely replied: "Next question."
From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2025
He speaks tersely, because every word is a hard-won battle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 20, 2023
“The doctor’s on a break. She’ll be back in twenty-five minutes,” the clerk said tersely.
From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
